Automatic match-box.



0. W, MARTIN. AUTOMATIC MATCH BOX. APPLICATION FILED D110. 2, 1909.

969,384. Patented Sept 6,1910.

. C/areI M Nari/n,

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CLARE W. MARTIN, OF POST FAIiLS, IDAHO.

AUTOMATIC MATCH-BOX.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARE WV. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Post Falls, in the county of Kootenai and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Auto,- matic Match-Boxes, of which the followmg is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to match receptacles, and the principal object of the same is to provide means whereby when the delivery lid or cover of the rece tacle is opened, a match will be partly ejecte so that 1t may be readily removed.

In carrying out the objects of the invention generally stated above it will be understood, of course, that the essential features,

thereof are necessarily susceptible of changes in details and structural arrangements, one preferred and practical embodiment of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the 1mproved match receptacle. Fi 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2, Fig. 1, the match receptacle being closed. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a match partly ejected from the receptacle. Fi 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on t e line 4-4, Fi 2.

Referring to said drawings by numera s, 1 designates a receptacle, one inner end of the bottom of which 18 recessed as indicated at 2 forming a seat for an ejector 3 which carries a rod 4 that extends into a guideway 5. Said rod 4 has a wide flat head 6 which forms an abutment for one end of a spring 7 coiled about said rod, the other end of said spring bearing against the bottom of said guideway. The top of the guideway is rovided with a slot 8 through which a mo 9 projecting from the head 6 is slidable. A pin- 1on 10 is journaled in a slot 11 of the upper edge of the end of the receptacle 1, said pinion projecting into the receptacle and engaging the rack 9, and also projecting on the outside of the receptacle so that it may be operatedto depress the rack 9 and rod 4 against the pressure of the spring 7.

A lid or cover 12 is hinged to the end of the receptacle adjacent the pinion 10 and is provided with a slot 13 through which said pinion projects. When the lid 12 is closed, the teeth of said pinion are engaged by the inner end of said slot so that when the lid Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed December 2, 1808. Serial No. 580,866.

' sition, the pinion wil against the tension of Patented Sept, 6, 1910.

is bein 10 will 9 to elevate the eject-in when said lid is bein roc rocked to an open position, pinion mechanism, and ed to a closed poedge of the top 15 of the receptacle when said lid is closed.

A housin 16 is arranged on the top 15 of the recepta-c e 1, said housing having its ends open. The housing 16 is rovided with two spaced apart abutments 1 17 which serve as guides for the guide rods 19 of the latches 20, each of said latches having its outer end provided with a lip 21 for engagement with the lip 14 of the cover 12, and also for a similar Ii 22 of a cover 23 hinged to the opposite en of the reoe tacle 1.

A spring 24 is coile about each guide rod 19, the s ring being interposed between the ends of t eir respective latches and the abutments 17 and exert a pressure to force the latches to a cover engaging position. A finger grip 25 is provide on each latch by means of which the latches may be retracted their springs. The covers or lids 12-23, are each provided with a spring 26 (but one shown) which automatically throws the same to an 0 en position when their latches are released? The receptacle is provided with two vertical partitions 27 arranged in V-shape to provide a guideway having a contracted outlet 28 through Whlch but one match-at a time may pass. A spring 29, preferably a flat leaf spring, has one end mounted upon a rod or bar 30 extending across the upper portion of the rear of the receptacle, said spring being arranged at a downward inclination and having its free end 31 projecting across the inlet end of the V-shaped guideway and bearin against the matches to crowd them towar the outlet 28 so that when the ejector 3 is in its seat, as shown in Fig. 2, a match will be forced thereon.

The receptacle is filled through the opene rotated in a direction to cause rack cause rack 9 to depress the e ecting mechanism. The cover 12 is .provlded with a .lip 14 which overlaps one ing closed by the cover 23, the presser s rin 29 being forced down manually an m2 matches placed in the V-shaped guideway.

It will be understood that the ejector 3 is retained to its seat in the bottom of the receptacle when the cover 12- is closed, said cover bearing on the up or end of the rack holding tlie same, as well as 9 and thereb the guide ro depressed against the tension will automatically raise the rod and rack and the ejector 3, causing a match to be partly ejected through shown in Fig. 3.

As will be observed by reference to Fig. 3 the match ejector 3 is limited in its upward movement by the bottom of the guideway 5 and also that said ejector rojects outward beyond the vertical plane of the guideway so that the match being delivered is not brought in contact therewith. And it will also be observed that the projected portion of the ejector 3 prevents matches bein forced to the seat 2 when said ejector is in a match receptacle, as

delivering osition.

What I c aim as my invention is 1- 1. A device of the character described comprisin a receptacle, a lid for one end thereof, e ecting-mechanism in said receptacle for elivering an article from said receptacle when said lid is opened, a rack carried by said ejecting-mechanism which p'rojects beyond the rece tacle when an article is being delivered, an a pinion operated by said lid and en aging said rack to restore the ejecting-mec anism to an" article-receiving position. 2. A device of the character described comprising a match receptacle, a pinion projectmg throu h the upper edge of one end thereof, a li for the receptacle provided with a clearance slot for said pinion, a match ejector slidable in said receptacle, a rack for said ejector held in mesh with said pinion and adapted to be actuated by said pinion to restore the said ejector to a match receiving position, said rack being engaged by said lid when closed to hold the ejector in a match receiving position, means for feeding matches to said ejector, and means for automatically actuating said ejector to cause the same to deliver amatch when the lid or'cover is being opened.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRED MARTIN, ROY BROADEEAD. 

